Strategic Planning
Strategic Planning is a structured way of creating long-term goals and plans for universities and colleges. It involves looking at where the institution is now, where it wants to go, and creating step-by-step plans to get there. This process typically includes analyzing current resources, setting measurable goals, and creating action plans. People who work in Strategic Planning often coordinate with different departments, gather data about the university's performance, and help leadership make informed decisions about the institution's future. Similar terms include institutional planning, academic planning, or organizational development.
Examples in Resumes
Led Strategic Planning process for college of engineering, resulting in 20% enrollment increase
Facilitated Strategic Planning sessions with faculty and staff to develop 5-year institutional goals
Created assessment metrics to track progress of Strategic Planning initiatives
Typical job title: "Strategic Planning Directors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Strategic Planning Directors
Professional Associations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle resistance to change during a strategic planning process?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with change management, stakeholder engagement, and communication strategies. Should emphasize importance of inclusive decision-making and building consensus among different university departments.
Q: Describe a time when you had to revise a strategic plan due to unexpected challenges.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate ability to be flexible, adapt to changing circumstances, and maintain stakeholder buy-in during plan adjustments. Should discuss specific examples of plan modification and results.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you measure the success of a strategic plan?
Expected Answer: Should discuss creating measurable goals, using key performance indicators (KPIs), collecting data, and regular progress monitoring. Should mention both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods.
Q: How do you ensure different departments stay aligned with strategic goals?
Expected Answer: Should explain methods for regular communication, progress tracking, and departmental goal alignment. Should discuss experience with cross-functional collaboration.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the key components of a strategic plan?
Expected Answer: Should identify basic elements like mission statement, vision, goals, objectives, action steps, and timeline. Should understand the difference between short-term and long-term planning.
Q: How do you gather data to inform strategic planning?
Expected Answer: Should discuss basic research methods, stakeholder surveys, focus groups, and data analysis. Should show understanding of why data is important for planning.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Data collection and basic analysis
- Meeting coordination and documentation
- Progress tracking and reporting
- Basic project management
Mid (2-5 years)
- Stakeholder engagement
- Goal setting and measurement
- Project management
- Department coordination
Senior (5+ years)
- Change management
- Leadership and vision setting
- Budget planning
- Cross-institutional collaboration
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience in higher education or similar complex organizations
- Lack of collaborative skills or team coordination experience
- Poor communication abilities
- No experience with data analysis or assessment methods
